How to Spend 14 Days in JAPAN 🇯🇵 Ultimate Travel Itinerary 

**DON'T FORGET JOURNEY ACROSS JAPAN KICKS OFF ON DECEMBER 1ST!** Well guys, I'm delighted to FINALLY release this video after 10 years, given it's been our most requested video topic. We’ve been working on this massive, epic episode of Abroad in Japan for the whole month now. It’s been a huge undertaking filming across Tokyo, Osaka, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Kamakura, Yokohama and Nara. But I hope you enjoy the video and are able to get a ton of ideas for YOUR trip to Japan. If you enjoyed the episode, be sure to show us your support and if it does well, we’ll produce more itinerary videos in 2024! (Special thanks to Natsuki and Sharla for joining!)

I'm actually going on a 14 day trip starting Friday next week so believe me when I say I was delighted to see this title 😂✨

If you`d like to save this guide in a quick notes sheet - Stay in Asakusa - historical district ( 1-2 days explore askusa ueno and akihabara) Day 3. Kamakura (Kyoto of East Japan) Kamakura daibutsu (43 ft buddha statue) Hokokuji Temple (temple with stunning bamboo forest) Komachi dori (bustling shopping street - try Giraffa curry bread) Yokohama ( second largest city) Minato Mirai Harbor ( Futuristic Waterfront district) CupNoodles Museum Chinatown ( the largest in the world) Day 4-5 Kanazawa (A town nestled in the mountains, a golden city, that wasn`t bombed or hit by natural disasters) Kazue Machi Chaya Tea District Omicho Market ( try unagi grilled eel ) Nagamachi Samurai Distrcit Matcha desserts Higashi Chaya-gai Geisha District Stay in a Machiya town house try gold leaf ice cream Kenrouken garden Kirari sushi (conveyer. very good quality of fish and price) Day 6 Shirakawago village (very beautiful mountain village) try their pudding in a glass jar Day 6-7 Takayama (Mountain city, Chris`s favorite town) Take in the views over the Miyagawa River Stroll around Takayama old town Try the many Hida beed street foods Takayama Showa-kan Museum Stop for tea at Bagpipe Hida Fold Village (if you skipped shirakawago) Dat 8-9 Kyoto The best stay is Higashyama (stay in Kyomachiya - a traditional Kyoto wooden townhouse) Fushimi Inari Taisha ( ancient shrine famed for its thousand of tori gates) Tempura endo yasaka (serving cripsy golden tempura battered dishes) Arashiyama Scenic Mountain District Sagano Bamboo Grove ( walkable 24 hours of a day for free Tenryuji temple (Zen Buddhist temple originally constructed in 1339) Kinkakuji (golden pavilion. zen temple originally home to 14th-century shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu) Wasaka Pagoda (five storey pagoda dating back to 1408) Kiyomizudera temple (one of Kyoto`s most celebrated temples founded in 780) Pontocho Alley (atmospheric narrow alley packed with restaurants) Nara is 45 minutes from Kyoto by train (ancient capital) Nara Park (with deer) Tomogi Mochi (rice cake flavored with Japanese mugwort leaves) Todaiji Temple (eastern great temple originally founded in the 8th century) Kasiga Taisha (Nara`s most celebrated Shinto shrine) Day 10-11 Osaka (Japan`s nightlife capital) Dotonbori (downtown Osaka) Takoyaki (Osaka's beloved battered octopus balls) Osaka Castle ( epic in scale and completed construction in 1597) Shinsekai (retro district built in the 1920s) (try kushikatsu - deep fried skewers - fish meat , veggies) Day 12 Hakone ( hot springs) Ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) and kanseki (traditional multi-course dinner) Kashikiri (reserved private bath) Owakudani (the great boiling valley) Hakone shrine on the shores of Lake Ashi Day 13-14 Tokyo again (Kabukicho, Shinjuku) Omoide yokocho (maze of narrow alleyways crammed with 60+ bars and restaurants) Shibuya How to experience Tokyo: Stay in a capsule hotel’ Stay in a love hotel Karaoke Mori Tower Game Center Odaiba Ginza ( souvenir shopping) Ueno park, shinjuku park Go retro second-hand shopping Eat some ramen (Ichiran, Ippudo, or just a random family-run ramen shop)

adding this to my bucket list 😍 japan is such a beautiful country 🇯🇵

I love that you included the history behind each of these places and put it into context with the history of the other places mentioned! So many tourism videos/articles are just like “go to this place because it’s cool” with no explanation on why it’s culturally significant. Great video as always, Chris!

Can’t recommend Kanazawa/Shirakawago/Takayama enough! Well worth the trip out there, hope this video encourages more people to visit 🙌🏻❤

Been watching this channel for about 8 years. Finally went on my dream trip to Japan and a week after I get back Chris finally decides to drop an itinerary video

the first time I went to japan I was 18, and I spent 2 weeks there with some other high schoolers on a program for teenagers. It was awesome. The second time I went I was 19 and spent 2 weeks there but brought my family so my mom could meet her brother living there. She hadn't seen him for over 35 years. It was also Awesome. The Third time I went I was 20, and I spent 2 months there backpacking with my close friend from Canada from Hokkaido to Hiroshima. This is without a doubt the best experience of my life, and it has forever shaped who I am as a person. I want go back but, after spending two months there I couldn't imagine spending any less time. I want to take my boyfriend there and we are both poor college students so I will use this with the knowledge I gained from visiting there to create an itinerary for us. I can highly recommend this video to anyone trying to plan a trip to Japan. P.S. DONT SKIP THE COUNTRY SIDE. it'd be a shame if your only experience with Japan was Tokyo. My personal favorite spots were Noboribetsu in Hokkaido (hot spring town), Karuizawa in Nagano(mountain resort town) and, Tōno in Iwate(my favorite place for small town immersion, Very nice locals!).

Chris is RIGHT on the money about starting in Asakusa. My family just got back from a month long trip to Japan and Asakusa was a perfect place as the train stations in the area are relaxed and easy to learn your bearings in as you prepare for dealing with larger stations and more hustle and bustle. It was beautiful and I loved our trip!

Japan is just unique in every way.

I feel like I haven't seen a travelogue of modern Japan this well done in quite some time. Excellent work.

Just came back from Japan. Looking forward to going back in the near future. Something about the charms of Japan, mixture of tradition and modern living, great food makes me want to go back again and again!

It's heartwarming to see you give Natsuki the chance and reason to explore the parts of Japan he never had time to

One place that is CRIMINALLY underrated its Enoshima, the island village aesthetic, while the mainland gave me like a 70s miami vibe but nicer. Ichinomiya while not having a lot going on, its a very calm countryside style to it with very friendly people.

I will never get tired of seeing Japan over and over again. Thanks Chris 😊

I have to say, Chris your videos have inspired me over the past few months. I just got your book shipped to me from the UK this week! Thank you for being my guide on a 2 month journey from Tokyo throughout the Mainland and all the way down to Okinawa. I probably would never imagine a solo trip of a lifetime like this without your channels and friends. Thanks for the courage mate!

Staggering production, to be honest. Better quality than the travel shows we get here, in the UK. Stunning cinematography, image quality, editing, and of course content.... the presenter / narrator isn't bad, either. Quite affable! Great quality audio also. The Japanese Tourist Board should pay Chris a nice little bundle for this. Makes me want to visit Japan more than ever! (and I've always wanted to go, but, being physically disabled I'm not sure how I'd manage. Maybe Chris could pay me to fly over and do a video about how a physically disabled tourist manages in Japan!) ;p Really great video, as interesting as it is stunning. Roll on Journey Across Japan! It's amazing how far RU-vid content has come!

You've outdone yourself with this one. The visuals, the history, the travel guide. So informative thanks for your hard work making this

My wife and I LITERALLY went to several of these places on our trip from November 2-23 and can’t believe we BARELY missed Chris and Natsuki whilst in Kyoto the 6th through the 10th! Nonetheless we enjoyed lots of Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Hida-Furukawa/Takayama, Shima, Nagoya and Yokohama and Tokyo! We cannot WAIT to return again some day!

Chris, please partner with a local tour agency and make this trip available to your fans worldwide 🙏 I love the idea of my first trip to Japan being in the company of other followers from across the world! Also: looking forward to the upcoming series!

Even when I'm not preparing to go to Japan, it is so relaxing and enjoyable to watch your videos and see the beauty and wonder Japan holds. Each prefecture and city is so wonderful in its own way. Thank you for bringing Japan into each one of our hearts.

My wife and I were in Japan in 2018 and this brought back a lot of good memories as well as shoes us some of the things we missed out on. Great job Chris!

This kind of thing is what brought me to you in the first place. Since then I've visited Japan for two weeks with my mom and best friend (one each week) and it was the trip of my lifetime and I can't wait to go back. I can't wait to send to them this video and HOPEFULLY talk them into doing it again. Thank you so much for all your content. It's been a delight.

I’ve been a lurker on this channel for years. Thank you for all that you do!

I visited Japan in May this year for the first time with two of my best friends. I can honestly say it was a trip of a life time, I can't express in words how incredible our 2week were. We started off in Osaka, day tripped to Kyoto then ended our trip in Tokyo. As a 36 year old man who's dreamed of visiting ever since I was a child, I cried on my return flight home (I'm getting emotional now as all the memories come flooding back into my mind lol) as my brain could not comprehend what I just experienced. I definitely will be back :)

The camera, the view, the color, the background music, the narrative and the taste of food, the way of presentation are really outstanding! A great master piece of arts!

Visited Japan last summer for the first time but already planned a new visit since there's so much more to discover. Thank you!

Even tho this video is only a few hours old it is by far my favorite video of yours. Not only for the premise itself (a very useful one for a channel like yours) but for everything else too. This video in my opinion represents every single aspect of how far you've improved as a youtuber. The camera work is fantastic. The shots are dynamic and sleek. They never get too boring or overstay their welcome. The production is astonishing. The editing is incredible. The music selection is perfect. The narration is solid, giving every single important detail to each location and what's great about it and it's filled with personality. This is by far the best travel guide to Japan that i've ever seen. Your years of experience in that country really shows since you talk about all kinds of places and foods nobody talks about and isn't at all cliché and avoiding all the tourist traps that aren't worth it. This video is astonishing and it's honestly hard to believe you made it all yourself when big budget hollywood level documentaries don't reach this level of quality. I've been watching your channel for years since the "how to study kanji" video in 2013 (i was 9 when i first saw it) and since then watching the creative explosion of your content in real time is nothing short of astonishing. It's in large part because of you that i made the decision to leave Canada and move myself and my small business to Japan 4 months ago at the age of 19. Japan has always been on my mind since i was a kid when it comes to travel compared to my soulless and crime ridden home town and the ever growing corruption and cost of living in my country seeled the deal for me. I speak conversational Japanese but i still have a long way to go. My biggest struggle is memorizing kanji and i use your system from the video i first watched from you over 10 years later to help. If it wasn't for your channel for getting me interested in Japan and teaching me most of what i know now about the local culture, and Matt Bonder's channel for his incredible and unique system that i use to learn the language and showing me that learning a language like Japanese is not only possible, but can be done from the comfort of my own home and can be fun and engaging, i honestly don't know where i would be in life. Thank you Chris, you changed my life. ❤

I swear, I had a talk with my wife 2 hours ago that we should plan a trip to Japan (we want to stay 3 weeks). Thank you very much Chris!

not only you make absolutly super high quality good videos with such good humor explaining the details, but you have such great taste in choosing the background music. love those disco, funk, retro genres you use for music.

I will definitely turn this into a mini Journey Across Japan for myself when I’m in Japan next month. The wait for this video did not disappoint

I went to Japan twice, and I'm unreasonably pleased with myself for the fact that I went to all the places in this video on my first try. I just missed Hakone (and the custard pudding when I was in Shirakawago😢). My second trip was this year and I explored other places, but I had to revisit a few (Kamakura is just too stunning to not go back). The highlight of the second trip was the Great Ise Shrine. Fantastic place.

I don't know why this one is hard to watch, whether its the knowledge that the weak yen is the closest I'll ever have to affording the trip and yet still can't, or the fact that if I can ever manage one trip, it will be my only trip and this would be that trip. Thanks Chris, Sharla, and everybody else behind the scenes, these videos are the only escape I have from my hell.

Did a 14-day trip in Japan this year, luckily I had my brother still living there. So we were able to do soo much with the help of a local to create our itinerary. We spent time in Tokyo of course, Osaka and Hiroshima (and Miyajima). Definitely was a trip of a life time for me, feels like it was just a dream now that I'm back home.

I am thrilled. I visited japan a few weeks ago and although i did not see everything mentioned, I’ve seen a lot. I am more in love with the land, people and culture now than before my trip. And I’ll have to go back, next year in autumn i guess. Thanks for this video, it gave me more inspiration

I don´t know why but seeing those beautiful old villages makes me feel incredible nostalgic even though i´ve never been there.

This is almost the exact itinerary for our honeymoon in 2018 but in reverse, we even did Kanazawa to Takayama via Shirakawago. It's brought back loads of memories watching this video, we can't wait to finally come back in 2024.

Was in Japan from the 5th - 17th of November with my friend and I really enjoyed the whole trip from start to finish. I'll definitely be back. It was my first time in Japan and we went to Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo. Hoping to be able to visit again soon.

This couldn't have come out at a better time! My friend and I just started planing our trip to Japan the other day for next spring This is going to be super helpful for us!!

Chris I cant believe ive been watching your channel for ~10 years now. My girlfriend and I have a 19 day trip planned for April 2024. Flights are booked and this video came at the perfect time. Thank you! Hopefully you do a meet and greet.... that would be incredible.

I feel awe and envy reading people's comments about them travelling to Japan. As for me, I'm planning to move to Japan permanently in the next few years. Really enjoying this video Chris!

The amount of effort that has gone into this, well done!!

Thanks for your video. Just did my first visit to Japan. Tokyo, Gora, Kyoto, Hiroshima and last Osaka. And I LOVE Osaka. What a city!!! I stayed just in the middle of it all. Not my last time in Japan.

Just got back from Japan. We were there for 3 weeks. Loved every moment of it. Thanks for your helpful videos Chris! 🇯🇵

Insane how beautiful this country is. Hope everyone reading this can achieve their dreams of going there someday and experiencing it for themselves.

I was in, Japan, for two weeks in 2019. Shortly after returning home, I discovered this awesome channel! When I go back to, Japan, I will be visiting all of the destinations in the video. Thank you, Chris!

Natsuki is such a charismatic fellow. He is the personification of casual cool.

I just got home from a 30 day trip, went to a few small towns (including one in Tohoku, fell in love with this region). Love Japan and can't wait to visit again.

I'm travelling to japan with my two friends for the first time at the start of january, this video is so perfectly timed for us

I'm flying to Japan tomorrow, and while I've had my itinerary planned out for a few months now, this video was great for getting me in the right headspace!

A 1 hour video?! This is actually fucking bonkers. I can't believe we are getting this absolutely mammoth of a video just BEFORE the 21-day JAJ series. Chris, you spoil us too much!

Just got back from a trip almost exactly matching this itinerary! My only advice is to get out early, transit is incredibly efficient but takes longer than you think to get between cities on day trips. I’m already planning on returning. It’s even better than you’d expect 🇯🇵😎

My favorite Abroad in Japan video ever, I love just simple narrated explorationish content like this on your channel

Top-tier video. I was looking to spend at least 14 days in Japan when I finally go at some point in the (hopefully) near future. This gives a rock-solid framework to work with. Would LOVE to see a 2nd video like this, either with more cities farther south (Fukuoka, Nagasaki, etc.) or north (though I believe Journey Across Japan will probably cover this pretty well).

My fiancé and I are getting married next year and we have been thinking about going to Japan for our honeymoon. This video really made me want us to do it even more now! Thank you for making this beautiful and informational video ❤

Congratulations Chris, when you do something well, you do it better than anyone else. Japan should use this as the ultimate promotion for tourism in their country. I can't wait for the next Journey Across Japan. Thank you so much. Cheers, Muffy from Oz. (Australia)

I love that every time you mentioned a "beautiful view" it was a shot of Sharla, and it made me so happy!

Chris, you are a national treasure, I think so. Hope you get the recognition you deserve.

One tip I would give is not to be afraid of getting lost and look for places not initially on your list. While being a bit disappointed by Kinkaku-ji (You can only see the temple from quite far away and the place was terribly overcrowded) we decided to stroll to some random temple just a few minutes away to find out we were literally the only ones there. This was a welcome change to find some peace and serenity in otherwise tourist packed Kyoto. Also a few tips for visitors on a budget: - Night buses can lower the overall accommodation and transport costs - and are more comfortable than their European counterparts (be sure to note it is still less comfortable than a regular bed). - Apparently some changes to the rail pass are going to happen so its hard to give a future proof advice, but consider whether you are going to use the pass for the whole duration and look for alternative - for example there used to be 5 days Kansai pass which was much cheaper than 7 day all Japan one and covers Osaka, Kyoto, Nara as well as Iga (a cute town with a castle and a ninja museum) and Himeji with its amazing castle. - In Shinjuku there is a free entry to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building's observational deck at 200m.

Dude, I too think my favourite city is osaka. I LOVED the atmosphere at night, bustling and energetic. When morning comes, the city is almost dead silent, but still beautiful, it’s truly amazing!

Been to Japan twice and planning to comeback for more! Thank you for the video, Chris! Not only it gave me some ideas, but also my favorite video in your channel so far! 🍻

half way through this video and i love it! i love how he has different people coming along with him and the narroration is great, usually i would fall asleep;he keeps in zoned in!

I'm gearing up for a 2 week solo trip to Japan during the summer of my third year in university, and videos like these always help me get ideas for what to do while I'm there. Thanks as always for the great content Chris!

I'm disabled so money's always tight and I doubt I'd ever be able to go to japan but this video is so beautiful and all the work you put in really shows!

I’m finally home from working away and nestled down onto the couch to binge on this new series. I kept this day free just for abroad in Japan. How’s that for a compliment, Chris? Your audience arranges their schedules around your videos 😂

Idk what but watching this I got some kind of nostalgic feeling, like the vibe of watching your videos back in 2017/18

Hey man I just wanted to thank you for your videos … I’m going through a hard time right now and every time I’ve watched one of your videos I felt so much better and ready to go on :) How you managed to set foot in Japan a your evolution there is a really great story and inspiration… I’m glad that you found such good friends like Natsuki etc. and of course your lady :p I found your channel after I visited Japan in April this year and you gave me many ideas, where to go and definitely what to eat there ( nothing beats 7eleven chicken tho XD ) Well all I wanted to say is a THANK YOU from all of my heart 🖤 Cheers from Germany Chris

Chris, take my bow. When I can go back to Japan (I've been twice but surely I'll go back) I will do this trip. Excellent quality production as always, it was great to see Sharla and Natsuki too, and I love that this video is almost an hour - fingers crossed this gets millions of views and likes! Thanks for your excellent work and good luck for your next Journey Across Japan adventures!

This is the BEST travel advice itinerary video. Love the format. This is why we asked you to do this video. Vastly different than any other that list simply tourist spots everyone knows about.

I had to write a comment! The amount of information in this video is insane. Thank you for sharing this 👏🏻👍🏻

Just finished up at 14 day trip the 17th of this month! Wish I could go back already 😢 It was crazy to me how you could spend multiple days in a single subdistrict of Tokyo if you really wanted to. Recommend everyone to think about balancing going wide with going deep when planning your itinerary!!

I was in Japan for a short time ten years ago but you and Sharla have emboldened me to plan a longer trip !! Thanks :)

A wonderful video! I shared this on my FB so my friends can all see. I have been to Japan many times and this is a great video to show a step by step ways to enjoy as much as possible in 14 days. Well done!

Thank you!!! We are planning 3 weeks in Japan next year and definitely using this to help plan our itinerary

I am literally planning a 2 week vacation currently and just found a Japanese language tutor for my stay. Your timing is LEGENDARY Chris thank you so much for this amazing information

Just bought yesterday the plane tickets to go to Japan. I cannot express how happy I am to have chosen to go to a lot of places you recomend! This video comes in really handy to polish the itinerary!

Been wanting to visit Japan for years now, this will be a guide on places to visit (as well as motivation) when I will finally have the chance. Thank you, Chris for all the videos showing what Japan has to offer.

You always remind me why I love and miss Japan, thank you! I will be there soon again, especially since my wife and her family live in Tokyo.

Don’t think I’ve ever watched an almost hour long RU-vid video when it felt only 5 minutes! Beautifully shot, informed and inspiring video! I’m going in 9 years for 3 weeks so cannot wait to see what other recommendations you have by then 😊

That's almost the exact trip I took on my first visit to Japan. Staying in Shirakawa-go was like stepping back in time and something I will never forget. Thank you Chris for bringing back some great memories.

PERFECT TIMING! I'M PLANNING MY (21 DAY NOT 14 DAY) TRIP TO JAPAN AND I WAS LOOKING FOR SOME IDEAS!

This was great! I especially enjoyed the Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka parts because - of course - that's where I went on my first and hopefully not last visit to Japan. It's so cool to remember being there! Every day was an adventure and the people were so lovely.

I visited most places during my 1 month stay. I feel so nostalgic and want to go back right away. Japan is just unique in every way. Thanks for the video and the trip down memory lane, Chris!

Thank you, Chris, Sharla, Natsuki and team. I was in awe throughout the entire video. Can't wait to visit Japan again.

I am headed to Japan for 2 weeks on 17 December so this is absolutely perfect timing! Thank you so much, I'm soooo excited 😍

The only Japan travel/vlog that I watch. You guys have come so far and you deserve the success. Although I really miss the cycling across Japan

I spent 10 days in Japan a few months ago and had a blast. Would have been cool to have this earlier... guess I just have to go again 😆 I spent 8 full days in Tokyo (hit a lot of the special wards, a pretty exhaustive look at Tokyo) 1 day trip to Yokohama 1 day trip to Numazu

Peak Abroad in Japan content as usual!!! You are the best!! This video is absolute gold for travelers who want to visit Japan!

I'll being going around Chistmas and could not be more excited! I've been watching your videos for years now and I really appreciate all the info and effort jam packed into each one. Looking forward to Abroad in Japan! - from the USA

Awesome video, brings back so many memories from our trip to japan. Hope to come back again soon. Amazing unique country, culture and people.

My son and I are going to Japan this year once he gets his passport and this guide is exactly what I was looking for for our trip! Thanks for this!

I could barely even focus on the information bc the production value on this video is INSANE. The color grading, the audio, everything is superb. Chris my man you continue to impress me with how you keep improving your videos

The cinematography in this video is amazing

This video is almost the exact route I took with some friends when we went in June this year, really makes me want to go back already.

Your narration of visiting Japan was like a mini virtual tour! Can't wait to make my own footprints in Japan now. Thanks for sharing your awesome experiences and the delightful itinerary. See you in Tokyo, maybe! 🇯🇵✈🍛🌸

I love this video, Chris! Planning my second trip to Japan next year and definitely got a lot of inspiration. You should do more videos in the same style, I would love a two week itinerary starting from Fukuoka and exploring Kyushu/southern Japan for example!

I feel like a kid everytime I watch your videos, especially the ones like this one. It's always been my dream to go to Japan and they always make that dream burn even brighter. I just wanted to share my appreciation for what you do I suppose. Thank you. :)

Lovely seeing Sharla make an appearance in this video! And somehow I expected Connor in the monke park, but Natsuki remains ever spontaneously quotable. Glad he got to see some areas of Japan that he had never visited before. I saw the Kamakura Daibutsu for the first time when I was a little kid, and I was in awe of its grandeur. It's kind of comforting to know it's still there, sitting there like a serene mountain. I remember drinking water from the temple, too, but I am not sure if they still do that.

I am in Japan atm for 14 days in total. This is my third time. My route is: -4 nights in Osaka (daytrip to Ghibli Park) -1 night in Beppu -2 nights in Fukuoka -3 night in Yokohama (daytrip Hakone, Enoshima/Kamakura) -4 nights in Tokyo (Daytrip to Chichibus night festival, daytrip to kawaguchiko) In a few hours I am continuing my journey and fly from Fukuoka to Tokyo and then go to Yokohama. I LOVE BEPPU. It’s a calm beautiful city. Fukuoka couldn’t really win me over. The next time, I want to visit the Tohoku region.

I've been wanting to go to Japan for over a decade now, and just recently I finally took the plunge and booked something for next year. Lots of things have changed after 2020, and I noticed older videos I'd bookmarked for a future trip were no longer up to date. This couldn't have come at a better time! Thank you!